Milton Man Arrested, Charged with Cocaine Trafficking

Drug task force officers arrested Fernando A. Jesurum, 26, after he arrived on the Island via ferry Tuesday night, Edgartown Det. Michael Snowden said in a statement of facts about the case. He was arraigned Thursday in Edgartown district court on charges of possession to distribute a class B drug (cocaine), subsequent offense and cocaine trafficking. Bail was set at $40,000 cash Wednesday by clerk magistrate Liza Williamson, and reaffirmed at $40,000 in a hearing Thursday before Judge Brian Merrick.

According to documents filed in court, Mr. Jesurum is also facing a cocaine trafficking charge from February 2013 in Boston Municipal Court, and $10,000 bail in that case has been revoked.

The statement said that officers conducting surveillance observed Mr. Jesurum driving south on Interstate 495 late Tuesday, and followed him onto the 9:45 p.m. ferry to the Vineyard. When he exited the ferry ramp upon arrival, the report said, task force members approached and handcuffed him.

A frisk revealed a blunt object in Mr. Jesurum’s buttocks, the report said, and later a large amount of a white powdery substance fell from his shorts and scattered on the ground. The substance was consistent with cocaine, the report said, and the scene was photographed and evidence was secured.

According to Detective Snowden, the arrest was the result of an eight-month task force investigation into cocaine distribution on the Island. Task force officers had followed Mr. Jesurum between Boston and the Vineyard, the report said, and worked with the Boston Police Department Gang Unit and the DEA Cape Cod Task Force during the investigation.

I still like to think of the island as a "different" kind of place unlike the rest of the world. Unfortunately, that is not reality and I know that but I am still hopeful. I miss the days of yesteryear and I am not referring to that far back. I am glad that the authorities are on the look out for folks that are bringing the bad element here. Thank You for that. It might seem like shoveling sand against the tide but one less is one step to better. God bless Marthas Vineyard.